Tag: COMM 101

Categories
Introduction to Business

Re: WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price

In the earlier years of my life, I had taken Economics 12. One of the most interesting documentaries that our teacher had shown us was, “WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price”, which I highly recommend to watch. The video shows multiple aspects on American WAL-MART, such as worker exploitation, environmental damage, and its massive impact on opening in small cities. It is made in a low-budget form, with an obvious biased standing strictly against the monopoly.

Our teacher was clearly completely convinced that WAL-MART is pure evil. The image is still vivid – enthusiastically waving her arms and speaking with such force that her mouth was as dangerous as a garden sprinkler, all regarding responsible actions that companies should undertake.

Although the documentary, like our instructor, makes its argument with the least of grace, it does point out shocking aspects of the company that I never thought would be happening, especially about how such a big company can disregard the environment and nonchalantly deals with company complaints.

You can check out the documentary here.

 

Categories
Entrepreneurship Introduction to Business

What is an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is an aspect of business that I have never truly understood, and will keep on trying to figure out.

Perhaps it is the versatility of entrepreneurs that makes the concept difficult to grasp, because the images that appear in my mind can vary from Donald Trump’s blonde toupee, to the Monopoly character that looks awfully similar to the Pringles man.

My good friend once told me that entrepreneurs are people that earns money by organizing people to make the best out of their talents.  What I had gotten out of our conversation  (perhaps also due to my natural tendency to exaggerate), was that an entrepreneur will be a shark, a sweet-talker, a charming-your-pants-off type of man with a killer haircut and legitimate-enough suit, that you cannot quite define their profession.

I find entrepreneurs share these similar qualities of charisma and ambition for success which are mostly personality traits, rather than skills learned off the textbook.

Most importantly, they are willing to take risks.

 

 

Categories
Entrepreneurship Introduction to Business

Dropbox is Innovative

How to make a great, delicious innovation. 

Ingredients:

– 1 Great idea, preferrably ripe and applicable to everyday lifestyle
 -1 Dash of courage
– Technology, to taste

I applaud. Dropbox has done this by claiming their spot in the file synchronization industry first.
Founder Drew Houston had thought of the idea because he had commonly forgot his USB  at home. Of all the times that I had forgotten my USB, why hadn’t I thought of this idea before Drew Houston?

Recently, Seth Fiegerman on Mashable posted Dropbox Hits 100 Million Users. Do you remember the days of the USB? Surely, Dropbox doesn’t. Recently, Dropbox has reached a milestone of a whooping 100 million users. Competitors such as Apple are fighting to compete with their similar cloud systems, but Dropbox confidently takes the lead.

The first time I had encountered their system was in high school, where a knowledgeable graphic designer friend had informed me about this beauty. He had his entire design life on there, it’s much more secure than carrying USB, or even hard drives around.  Dropbox has then since held my hand throughout my high school career, file sharing at lightning speeds, group work at school became a breeze.
Perhaps following the recipe for innovation, I could make a game-changer too. Hey, a girl can dream right?

 

http://mashable.com/2012/11/13/dropbox-hits-100-million-users/

Categories
Introduction to Business Introduction to Marketing

Starbucks

In this country with a free market, I often look around at the billboards and products around is in which we immerse ourselves in. Coffee is delicious, essential to Sauder lifestyle, and is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. Starbucks, the world’s most successful chain coffee house, accurately portrays the new decade with their product.

Starbucks has done an excellent job relating their product to a specific desirable lifestyle. With the paparazzi snapping photos of well-dressed famous celebrities holding a cup of Starbucks, it links the brand to a high-fashion, trendy way of life. Transitioning into the cold winter months, Starbucks is avidly positioning itself into the consumer’s mind… sitting by the fireplace, watching snow fall, and having a warm Pumpkin Spice Latte.

When the winter months come, the cosy feeling of Christmas is linked to the red cups which Starbucks have cleverly crafted the appearance to. The winter campaign for their hot drinks have become successful by their unbeatable marketing team, crafted to their successful product. The massive coordination, research and creative thought put into the campaign is terrifyingly impressive. Looking into the news, the company has close to none bad reputation.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/the-latte-cats-the-starbucks-power-men-1442804
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/starbucks-raises-full-year-forecast-on-strong-sales/article4830767/
http://www.starbucks.ca/
http://www.starbucks.ca/responsibility/sourcing/coffee

Categories
Introduction to Business Marketing

SFU Marketer’s Night

SFU Marketing Association had recently hosted their Marketer’s Night.
http://www.facebook.com/events/401830359887299/?fref=ts

Mariah Hamilton, Business Strategist from B3 Communications, was the first speaker of the night.
She was the mind and power behind many large-scale products, the most memorable being  Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery. Cloud 9 has a number of outlets which it sells its products to, including Cafe Artigiano and Costco Wholesale. Personally, I had tried their biscuits before I had met Mariah Hamilton, and I was very impressed by their delicious product. After seeing her entire project with the local business, I was impressed at how professional and thorough she had marketed the product, from e-marketing to the press release of the product.
http://www.cloud9specialtybakery.com/

The vibrant yellow Happy Water brand ambassadors, and me.

Another speaker that had been featured was Stephanie Florian, Promotions Director of Happy Water.
Happy Water, a product that is loud and stands out, was carefully crafted by Stephanie Florian. Her strategy included hilarious commercials that air with The Bachelor, to a Happy Truck filled with her Happy Water Team, all wearing bright yellow to roam around Vancouver promoting their product. Her take to the product was very in-your-face, a take which I personally believe is a hit-or-miss. Although the product has been packaged to be very eye-catching and vibrant, the product essentially has many substitutes, which is a large threat to their company.
http://livehapp.whc.ca/index.php/home/

Categories
Introduction to Business Marketing

Re: Tim Hortons: A Canadian Icon

Re: Tim Hortons: A Canadian Icon by Sally Chen

A server pours a cup of coffee at the Tim Hortons’ AGM in Toronto on Thursday, May 10, 2012. (Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

As I sit in my local Tim Hortons in Coquitlam reading this article that Sally had written, it came to my consciousness of the question why Tim Hortons had been so successful.

In Sally’s blog, she has pointed out that Timmies offers:

  • national identity and pride via tradition, history, and hockey
  • ability to adapt to the demands of consumers and changing trends, in terms of products
  • successful brand positioning developed from its slogan, “always fresh”
  • legendary Tim Hortons coffee

When Tim Horton’s claim they sell legendary coffee, they’re not kidding.
A good friend of mine from Ireland noted that the only taste that reminded him of home was a good ol’ double-double. More than just the Canadians, the Irish are loving it too.

I have came to realise Tim Horton’s position in the market. They’re the only ones that offer a homely, hearty atmosphere at a low price without the evil, greasy, children-targeting fast food chains that we are commonly used to. As I sip on this cup of hot, delicious double-double, the warm mahogany walls make me feel at home – no matter where “home” is. (Ireland?)

 

Categories
Introduction to Business Marketing

Re: The ugly truth of brand positioning

This is a reply to The ugly truth of brand positioning by  Nick Liddell.

In this blog post, he argues that in brand positioning, finding a brand name doesn’t require “truth”. By this, he means that companies often build upon factual “truths”, and will sell their product upon it. Often the most successful brands have used this, in his example of Dove feeding off the truth that women are insecure; or Axe, using the truth that men want to attract the opposite sex.  Arguing that this will be insufficient, because brands need to convey more than just fulfilling the consumer’s needs and wants, the brand needs to communicate quality of their product.

 

Consumers nowadays are getting smarter. They don’t like to be lied to, and it seems as though manipulation from marketers have been exploited ever since inspiration has led marketers to treat consumers like dogs drooling to the sound of a bell.

Positioning in a consumer’s mind only what consumers are seeking will only get you halfway. It must also be the purpose of the brand and the company must follow through with it’s claims.

 

Categories
Introduction to Business

Social Media – Checklist for powerful and effective content

☑  Relatable

Audiences will most often reject new products, information or services if they don’t relate to their previous experiences or knowledge. If your content has information that can create a link to their lives, they will most likely have a feel-good impression.

☑   Engaging

Engaging not only means capturing the attention of your audience, but allows others to easily share your content elsewhere. Social media, if effectively implemented, should impact others enough to reference others to.

☑  Unique

Find your originality! What is your niche in the market? After you have found what makes you special, claim it. Embrace this point of difference and make sure that it isn’t hidden in the foreground of your content.

☑  Relevant

Nobody wants to read content that seems to be exaggerated and unrealistic. Make sure that your content is compelling and believable, most importantly, relevant. This can thus make a lasting impression in the consumer’s mind.

☑  Dynamic

Is your content and context ready for change? Because of the constant change in technology, you must be prepared to lead the way in the sector of innovation, because social media allows to do so with ease and speed. It is a strategy to include current events so that more traffic is directed to your online presence.

☑  Interactive

Lastly, an important feature of social media is allowing direct interaction with customers instantaneously. This information is important to you, as you can get their feedback and input on their thoughts on products, services and image.

Categories
Entrepreneurship Introduction to Business

Business Ethics – Compromising Whilst on the Hunt for Money

As in the article Stop collecting health numbers, SaskTel told demonstrates, identity theft is still an ongoing issue in society. The Canadian telephone company  SaskTel , based in Regina, Saskatchewan, was found to have breached the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

 A customer was surprised the company had their personal information: health card number, as well as SIN number without their permission. The company claims to need two pieces of information (such as SIN number or a driver’s license) for credit worthiness. The fact that they had the customer’s information without having asked for it is quite terrifying.

Since the incident, SaskTel had attempted to clean up their mess by implementing and improving rules on customer privacy, such as allowing customers to pre-pay their bills if they do not wish to share two pieces of information for credit worthiness.

How did they get these private pieces of information? For what purpose do they need this information for?

 

Companies exploiting people’s personal information is just one part of a constant battle with business ethics. Conflicts of interests arise – trying to earn as much money as possible just isn’t going to cut it in reality.

How can we protect ourselves, and  our businesses, and attend to each of our individual interests? Each one of us share a part in a group or organization. The biggest organization, is the global village. We all must have responsibilities for a functioning, balanced world. Seemingly miniscule decisions makes a huge difference if added up together. It changes situations completely.
For example, if every Canadian decided to eat vegetarian on Mondays, it would equate to being 1/7 of the population being vegetarian!

Massive corporations are treated as “people” in the courtrooms. From observing the personality of this “individual”, we can conclude that the corporate individual is a sociopath. Without being able to tell the difference between right and wrong is not only harmful to others, it is also self-destructive.

As in the SaskTel example, companies must compromise their ways to fit business ethics, otherwise, taking advantage of others will only corrode the balance of the economy.

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